Sewing machine



Jan. 179 i955@ H. .1. LE vEscoNTE. ET AL SEWING MAcHNE e sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 9, 1945 u H. J. LE'. VESCONTE ET AL SEWING MACHINE Jan. 17,'1950 Filed Aug. 9, 1945 5ML i?, W5@ H. J. LE VES/OME E'fm. 494,88

SEWING MACHINE rl THUN 'Y H. a @MM Jan 17, 195@ H. J. LE VESCONT ET AL.21,494,388

SEWNG MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1945 6 Sheets-Shee. 4

ET AL. 2,494,888

Jan., 1950 H. J. LE VESCONTE SEWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug.9, 1945 Il@ .il l

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SEWING MACHINE'.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 9, 1945 Patented Jan. '17, 195) 2,494,888SEWING MACHINE Harold l'. Le Vesconte, Glendale, Calif., and Albert M.Schweda an cago, Ill., assignors to Union d Ciarenoe C. Smith, Chi-Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication August 9, 1945, Serial No. 609,766

14 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and, more particularly, `tosewing machines embodying a new and improved type of work feedingmechanism for feeding material past the stitchforming instrumentalitiesof the sewing machine. it is particularly concerned with a new andimproved presser foot and feed roller arrangement and means for drivingthe roller, which facilitates proper advance of the work under allconditions.

The invention is especially directed to a new and improved materialfeeding mechanism which is particularly adapted for use on machinesintended for sewing heavy materials, or hard fabrics which are difficultto feed, or for the performance of operations in which it is importantthat the ends of the two plies forming a seam come out even. It alsorelates to certain associated mechanisms of a new and improved typeemployed in conjunction with the feeding mechanism and relatedstitch-forming instrumentalities, such as the presser foot and mechanismfor regulating the length of the stitch.

The uniform feeding of heavy or hard materials over the work supports ofsewing machines has always been dinicult, and such feeding is especiallydifficult in operations in which the material must be sewn or seamed insuch a way that there is no extension of one ply beyond the other at theend of a seam. Feeding mechanisms now available are of such type thatheavy or hard materiais being fed tend to slip, thus resulting inbnnching, crooked seams, and other defects. ln accordance with thisinvention, an upper feed roller is provided and arranged to rotateintermittently in synchronous cooperation with a feed dog of the fourmotion type in moving the fabric relative to the stitch-forminginstrumentalities of the sewing machine.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a work feedingmechanism for sewing machines which mechanism is simple and compact, oflight weight and capable of high speed, vibration-less operation. It isalso an object to provide such a feeding mechanism which is particularlysatisfactory for advancing heavymaterials, and others which aredifficult to feed, past the stitch-forming instrumentalities of themachine.

It is another object of this invention to provide a feeding mechanism ofthe character indicated, which is positive and accurate in its operationand which is so positioned and arranged in elation to the presser footand stitching mechanism as to facilitate movement of the feedingmechanism as well as the presser foot in comthis invention involves theclutch mechanism of simple yet efficient construction in directassociation with This reliable in its action.

a feed roller for driving the feed roller. mechanism is positive andToward this end the spring of the clutch is preferably tapered so thatit is relatively flexible at its driving end, but very sturdy at itsdriven end.

Still another object of this invention has been to provide, incombination with the foregoing feed mechanism, an improved presser footso mounted and arranged as to provide contact with the fabric in theregion of the needle openings, regardless of the extent of its rockingdue to the passage of seams beneath the presser foot.

Further objects of this invention include the provision of a directdriving connection between the main drive shaft of the sewing machineand the feed roller, which driving connection is simple and reliable inits operation at all times, and the provision, in combination with thisform of driving connection, of simple and effective means for preventingrotation of the feed roller in the reverse direction. This simple andreliable driving mechanism and means for preventing retrograde rotationof the feed roller, are provided in combination with the above mentionedtapered spring clutch which is positioned within the feed roller. Bythis combination of features a greatly improved feeding action has beenproduced.

The foregoing objects, features, and advantages of the invention, aswell as others which will be hereinafter set forth, may be more fullyappreciated by reference to the ensuing disclosure of certain preferredembodiments thereof, keeping in mind that these are intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. The invention may be readilyunderstood from the detailed description which will now be given inconnection with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation ofl a sewing machine to which theinvention has been applied, portions thereof being broken away, andcertain parts being shown in section, for clearness of illustration;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the sewing machine, certain cover platesand other parts being removed or broken away, and some parts beshould bemade to the copending patent applicaing shown in section, in order toillustrate the tions of Clarence C. Smith, Ser. No. 541,902, filedconstruction more clearly; June 24, 1944, now Patent No. 2,430,370,Novem Figure 3 is an elevational view of the needle ber 4, 1947, andGeorge Sauer, Ser. No. 561,182, head portion of the sewing machine, thisview also 5 filed October 31, 1944, now Patent No. 2,446,306,

showing' one end of the work supporting arm; August 3, 1948 Figure 4 isa fragmentary view, partly in elevation and par 'ly in vertical section,showing the may be provided with a frame I I which may be needle headportion of the machine and the arconstructed as shown in the Christensenet' al. rangement of certain parts associated therewith; l 5. This frameincludes down- Figure 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly wardlyextending hollow portion I2 and workin vertical section, through theneedle head porsupporting arm I3. Power is supplied to the mation andthe cooperating end portion of the workchine through a combined handwheel and pulley supporting arm, showing the presser foot, feed I4,secured to a main drive shaft I5 extending roller, and associatedmechanism; longitudinally of the upper portion of the frame Figure 6 isa side elevational view of the presser and supported in bearings I6, VI,and I8. The foot and the parts immediately associated theretwo mainsections of the shaft are connected by with; a coupling Ita. The powerdelivered may be supplied by an electric transmitter (not shown), in-

Referring to the drawings, the sewing machine Figure 7 is a top planView of the presser foot, feed roller, and parts immediately associatedo cluding an electric motor, an associated clutch, therewith, thepresser bar and the vertical rock and other necessary mechanism. It maybe of shaft for intermittently rotating the feed roller any knownconstruction such as that shown, for being shown in section.

example, in the copending application of Levesconte and Schweda, Ser.No. 449,196, filed June 30, 1942, now Patent No. 2,390,220, December 4,tial eleva-tional View of the clutch spring by which 1945, whichconstruction is also illustrated in said copending application ofClarence C. Smith.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the feed lever therefor;

Adjacent the inner end of the main drive shaft Figure 9 is a detailview, in elevation, of the I5 there is secured an eccentric I9 whichcooptapered clutch spring; erates with the strap portion of pitman 20.At

Figure 10 is an end View of the clutch spring its lower end (not shown)this pitman is connectat the driving end thereof;

Figure 1l is an end view of the clutch spring at 5). This feed bar 2| isin turn connected in opits driven end;

erative relationship with feed dog 22, preferably Figure l2 is a side oredge view of the drving 35 of the four motion type, to which there istherelever for driving the tapered clutch spring; by imparted a risingand falling movement. The Figure 13 is a face view of the driving lever;operation of such a feed dog, and suitable mechanism for impartingrising and falling movements i thereto, are described in Kucera Patent2,199,666, is held against reverse rotation during the return issued May7, 1940.

movement of the driving lever; Shaft I5 also carries a second eccentric25 Figure 15 is a detail face view of the horizontal which cooperateswith strap portion of pitman or link by which the feed roller is drivenfrom the link 26 which, through suitable connections of vertical rockshaft; the type disclosed in said Kucera patent, serve to Figure 16 is aside elevational view of a modi- 45 axially reciprocate rock shaft 28(Fig. 5) which fied arrangement of the feed roller and presser carriesat its end one or more loopers 30. These foot and associated parts, someparts being loopers are thus given their needle avoid movebroken away orshown in section in order to illusment. The end of shaft I5 also carriesball stud trate the arrangement more clearly; 32 cooperating with apitman or compound link Figure 17 is a horizontal'cross-sectional viewof 50 33, the lower end of which is connected with rock shaft 28 bymeans of a crank arm 34. Rock shaft struction shown in Figure 16, takenon the line 28 is thus oscillated, thereby imparting loop-taki7`l1 ofligure 16 some parts being removed for ing and shedding movements to theloopers 30. Clearness of illustration; and

This mechanism need not be described in detail Figure 18 is an endelevational View of the here since it will be found fully described inmodified feed roller and the lower portion of the Kucera Patents Nos.2,172,321 and 2,199,666. presser bar, the presser foot supporting framebe- Shaft l5 is provided with a crank portion 3B ing shown incross-section. a tween the counterweights 31 For purposes ofillustration the invention has formed integral therewith or secured insome been shown as applied to a feed-oiT-the-arm sew- 6u other manner toadjacent portions of the shaft. ing machine of the type disclosed inChristensen Pitman 39 cooperating with the crank 36 is pivet al. PatentNo. 1,741,095, granted December 24, otally connected at its opposite endby pin 39 with 1929. Reference may be made to that patent for thedownwardly extending arm of bell crank lever 49 roekably mounted uponthe sewing machine `frame by means of the shaft 4I. This shaft isstanding of this invention, which are set forth in journalled inbushings 42 and 43 (Fig. 2) carried detail therein. Certain otherfeatures of operaby the needle head portion oi the frame. tion andconstruction, not disclosed in detail The outer end of the forwardlyextending arm herein, will be found in the Christensen Patent of bell ce rank lever 49 is connected by link 44 No. 2,372,175, granted March 27,1945. For a thro ugh pivot 45 with block 46 secured to needle fullerdisclosure of the oil pumping system and bar 47.

mechanism associated therewith for conveying reciprocation in the needlehead in a manner well lubrication :from sumps to reservoirs positionedin known in the art. Also mounted for vertical rethe frame of the sewingmachine, and for supciprocation in the needle head is the presser barplying lubricant to the operating parts, reference 49 carrying at itslower end presser foot 50 (Figs.

1 and 5), in a manner to be explained more fully hereinafter. Thepresser bar 49 is urged downwardly by means of a spring arrangement 5lof any suitable form. For the purpose of lifting the presser footagainst the action of the spring there is provided block 52 (Fig. 4)secured to the presser bar, which block is adapted to be engaged byfinger 53 secured to rock shaft 54. An arm 55 is also secured to therock shaft and is connected by link 5B with an upward extension of lever58 secured to rock shaft 59, which rock shaft is mounted on a portion ofthe sewing machine frame. The other end of the lever 58 is connected bychain 99 with a foot treadle or any other convenient control member (notshown) operable at will by the machine operator.

Referring to the elements comprising the materialfeeding mechanism whichare above the work support, and which cooperate with the feed dog 22which engages the under side of the fabric, reference should be made toFigs. 3, 5, 6 and '7, and to the detail views, Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive.The needle bar 41 in the illustrative machine carries two needles 92 and63,`which are reciprocated by means of the needle bar. These needlespass through the needle openings 65 and 66 in the presser foot 59,thereby permitting stitching of the fabric.

Both presser foot 59 and the feed roller 68, of a novel and improvedconstruction as described below, are mounted on a rock frame 19. Therock frame is pivoted at 1| to a shank portion 12 which, in turn, issecured to the presser bar 49.

The rock framer19, at that portion thereof extending in front of thepivot 1|, is formed with the two spaced arms 14. Presser foot 59 isretained between the arms 14 by means of pivot screws 15, which arelocated in a line intersecting the middle of the needle bar axis, whichis substantially midway between needles 62, `65 and also midway betweenthe needle openings B5, B6. Rock frame 19 projects in rear of thepivotal support 1I in the form of a yoke 11. The feed roller 68 islocated between the arms of the yoke and is mounted on shaft 18 fastenedin the rock frame. Sleeve 8G, the lower end of which is rounded andprovided with tip portion 8|, is seated in a recess and aperture 83 inthe end of the yoke member 11. Rod 84, provided with an enlargedthreaded portion 85 which is adjustably mounted in a threaded opening inthe arm 86 and locked in place by nut 31, extends into the sleeve 89.Surrounding the rod B4 is a helical compression spring 99, which bearsagainst the threaded portion 85 of the telescoping rod.

The arm 8B, which supports the rod 84, forms part of a bracket that hasa portion 99 extending through a guide opening 9| in the needle head.This bracket is secured to collar 92 on presser bar 49 by means of screw93. It serves both to support the rod 34, and to prevent the presser bar49 from turning or oscillating about its axis.

Spring te forces the sleeve 89 downwardly into contact with the rockframe 19 at a point well in the rear cf the shaft 18 for the feed roller68, and also well in the rear of the pivotal support 1| for the rockframe 19. This spring therefore exerts a pressure on the rock framewhich results in adding to the pressure of the spring 5| on the presserbar 49 by which the feed roller 58 is forced downwardly, and it alsoacts to decrease the pressure exerted by spring 5| on presser foot 59.The tension of the helical spring 89 is, of course, less than thetension of the leaf spring 5| bearing on the presser bar 49, but the netresult of the arrangement is that the presser foot` is forced againstthe fabric with a comparatively light pressure, while the feed roller 68is pressed against the fabric with a much stronger pressure.

On the rearward portion of the rock frame 19, and extending upwardly andprojecting rearwardly therefrom, is a lug 95, which extends between thelower end of a pair of lower guide bars 96 and 91 (Figs. l and 5). Thisserves to steady the rock frame, and prevents turning movements of thelatter about or with the presser bar, while permitting the rock frame 19to oscillate freely on the pivotal supports 1| and 15 when the feedroller 168 and presser foot 50 are in engagement with the fabric. AU-shaped wire 99 secured to the lower ends of guide bars 96 and 91underlies the lug and limits the downward movement of rock frame 10 andfeed roller 68 carried thereby.

The feed roller 68 is intermittently rotated by means of a clutch spring|99 (Figs. 8 to 1l) having a tapered frusto-conical inner surface and astraight cylindrical outside surface which engages the inner surface ofthe feed roller. The provision of the taper on the inner surface of thespring serves to exert a positive and instantaneous, flexible grippingaction at its driving end itil, while the driven end |92 is of heavierconstruction for more positive action in its continuous cooperation withthe driving lever |93. Bent lug |94 extending from the driven end ofspring |99 engages a slot |95 in the outer rim portion of the drivinglever |93 (Figs. 12 and 13). As the driving lever |93 is rocked towardthe needles 52, 93, there is a tendency to expand the spring so that theoutside surface of the spring E99 will grip the inner surface of thefeed roller 58 and cause the roller to rotate so as to feed the workover the work arm E3. As the lever rocks in the opposite direction thespring |99 tends to contract, rather than expand, so that it turnsreadily within the roller and the roller remains stationary. To keep thefeed roller 68 at rest during this reverse non-feeding movement of thelever and spring, a ball |95 (Fig. 14), which is normally yieldinglyheld against the side face of the feed roller 68, is wedged against theframe so as to prevent retrograde movement of the feed roller. This ballbraking means is urged against the side of the feed roller 68 in aninclined passage in the rock frame 19 by a plunger |91, which isspring-urged by flat spring |919. During feed movements of the feedroller the ball |96 is urged upwardly (Fig. 14) out of wedging relation.

Driving lever |93, driving the feed roller 68, is operated from verticalrock shaft |98 (Figs. 3 and 7) by mechanism which includes ball studassembly |99 having a threaded portion which is screwed into the upperend of the driving lever |93 and secured in place thereon by nut i9.Ball stud assembly |99 has attached thereto a horizontal link (Fig. 15)which is of yielding construction and is held in place by a clamp screwH2. Horizontal link ill is also connected with a second similar ball andstud assembly H3, which is fastened by means of a nut ||4 (Fig. 3) to adownwardly extending lug portion of a split collar ||5 which is securedto the lower end of the vertical rock shaft |98 by 'means of a clampingscrew H6. The rock shaft |98 is carried by bracket |E1 secured to theside of the frame by means of screws H9.

At its upper end the vertical rock shaft |98 has an enlarged headportion H9 of forked or split construction, which has a threaded holefor 'the reception of the micrometer adjustment ball forminginstrumentalities, as well as the oper- Screw stud |20 which is clampedin adjusted ation of the other mechanism associated there- DOSOII in theSlotted upper end of the rock with and forming part of our invention,will shaft by means of a screw i2l. By varying the be apparent from theforegoing description.

position of the ball screw stud lili? in relation to 5 Feed roller 68 iso perated from pitman |23i the axis of the vertical rock shaft itil, theeffecwhich causes rock shaft |08 to oscillate, thereby tive length ofthe lever arm formed by the ball imparting rotary motion to the feedroller screw stud i22 is varied, and this regulates the through drivinglever |03 which is in operative stroke or length of each feedingmovement of the yeiationehip with tapered spring clutch |00. The feedroller 68. Ball screw stud l2@ receives its l0 n ball braking means |06prevents movement of the movement by means 0I pltman Strap 2d (Fie. 3)feed roiier in the opposite direction when the which With a Cai) member|22 SeCuled by SCi'eWS driving lever |03 makes its return movement. In

i22a embraces at one end the ball portion of ball this Way the feedroller is driven only in one SCISW S5110'. H9, and at the Other endembraces direction. Itis held with a firm pressure against balieccentric |24 on the main shaft adjacent 15 the material being SewedCombined hand Wheel amid Pulley M- 1 In the first modication illustratedin Figs. l to The alternate feed roiler and presser OOD a?" '1, thepressure of the leaf spring 5| is increased rangement shown in Figs.. 16to i8 isQ somewhat by the additional pressure provided by helicalSlmpler than the embOdlmelt "leSCllSd abOVe compression spring 83 actingon the feed roller and has certain advantages `ander specific cirto urgethe iai-,ter against the Work The aicumstances. The feeding action ofthe feed roller rangement is such that the presser foot 50 is isaffected to a lesser extent by variations in the pressed against thematerial with lessened pres Seam thicknesses' eure, due to the liftingaction of spring 89 there- The modified construction is, in general,simiiar on This presser foot is arranged so that it to the constructionabove described, except that 25 may rock due to the passage beneath itof Cross the feed IOHBI 53', dlVDg lGVSl |33', and bail seams in thefabric) Without interfering with braking means IGS which preventsretrograde stitching by ha nsedies 62 63, which pass movement of thefeed roller, are all mounted through apertures 55, 65 in the presserfoot. It directly on the shank portion la secured tothe Wm beappreciated that the Strong downward lower end of the presser bar 49.Presser root re"su-e a plie to the fe roller 6 assists in 50 is retainedbetween the arms of rock p D r p` d ed 8 f To, b t N .15, .1 th coastuthe movement of heavy materials and materials trlnedescgewboewaoc le*i's also which are difficult to feed across the work arm formed withrearwardly projecting yoke portion gir;geg/nirrfgleceey Ielastnt 11',provided with recess and aperture 33 in 35 ihagolffoot 5a andthe feeddoc, 22 J: op, am 'J il 'No c,

of a compression spring as in the first inodication, min. mus? atn'd mFlfgs' 15 to 18 the feed 10u61 and is arranged to pull the rock frame'it' up- G8- 15 ford uownwa-1d by means of the plessmze wardly at theyoked end l thereof, thus ap- 40 Xe'ted by leaf Spllllg 5l| .O11 Dresserbai 49, plying a downward pressure to the presser foot Whlle the presserfoot 59 1S urgd agamst the which bears against the feed dong 22. rihefeed dog 22,' by me upward tens/lon exerted by normal downward pressureexerted by the presser hehcal @351GB Sprmg 89.- v bar 49 under theaction of its spring is exerted The I ength 0f the feedlng movementlmpa'ted only on the feed i-Oiiei- 53'. 45 to the feed roller 68, andthus the length of the The feed miler g3' is mounted on Shaft 33'stitch, is regulated as above described by adjustcarried by the shank l2and which extends beill-g the DOS'UOD Of the ball Screw stud |28 in yondthe latter to provide a pivotal support for letloll t0 the aXS 0f thelOCk Shaft |98 by the rock frame 7o', It is driven maghi; of means ofthe micrometer adjustment means afdriving lever m3 and a tapered springclutch 5o forded by the Screw threads. The Operation of positionedwithin the roller, the driving mechathe other parts of the sewingmachine will be nism being identical with that above described. apparentfrom the foregoing detailed description. Ball bea ing means litt ismounted directly on While several illustrative forms of the inventheshank 12', and comprises ball lilo which is tion have been disclosed inconsiderable detail, urged inwardly in an aperture in the shank 55 itshould be understood that numerous changes against the face or side offeed roller E33 under may be made in the construction and arrangetheaction Of plunger 97' and flat Spring wm. ment of the various partswithout departing from ThS braking means UHCODS ll the Same Way thegeneral principles and scope of the invenas in the embodiment descibedabove to pretion,

vent retrograde motion of feed roller til during return or backwardmovement of the driving lever |03 by wedging between the shank I2 andthe face of roller 68.

As shown, shank '12 is provided with a rear- W'e claim:

l. in a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feed ma mechanism for said material comprising a ward extension or lug estwhich extends cen presser bar mounted for movement toward and tween thelower ends of the guide bars 9d and away from Said Work arm and a feedroller 97', and iS held against mUVemSH belGv-V these journalled at thelower end of said presser bar guide bars by a U-Shlfl Wife, aS in 'theCOD- and adapted to engage the material on said work struction describedabove. The guide bars 9&5 arm for feeding the same thereon, theimpro-Ven and 91 are Secured t0 the fmt-'1G 0f the Sewing 70 ment whichcomprises vmeans for driving said machine, exactly as shown in Fig. 3which illusfeed roller fi-Om Said main drive Shaft Compristrates thefirst modification. ing, one-way clutch means within said feed roll- Theoperation of our new and improved feed er, an eccentric on Said maindrive Shaft, a pit- 101181 58, @Operating With the e COS 22 t9 manactuated thereby, a vertical rock shaft admove material with referenceto' the stitchze jacent Said presser bar connected with said pitman 'foroscillation thereby about the axis of said shaft, and a driving leveractuated by the rocking of said rock shaft, said driving lever beingoperatively connected to said clutch, whereby said feed roller isintermittently rotated in one direction.

2. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engage the materialon said work arm for feeding the same thereon, the improvement whichcomprises means for driving said feed roller from said main drive shaftcomprising, clutch means within said feed roller, van eccentric on saidmain drive shaft, a pitman actuated thereby, a vertical rock shaftadjacent said presser bar connected with said pitman for oscillationthereby about the axis of said shaft, a driving lever actuated by therocking of said rock shaft, said driving lever being operativelyconnected to said clutch, whereby said feed roller is -intermittentlyrotated in one direction upon movement of said driving lever in onedirection, and stop means directly engaging said feed roller forpreventing rotation of said feed roller in the reverse direction uponmovement of said driving lever in the reverse direction.

3. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is 'fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted t engage the materialon said work arm for feeding the same thereon, the improvement whichcomprises means for driving said feed roller from said main drive shaftcomprising, clutch means within said feed roller, an eccentric on saidmain drive shaft, a pitman actuated thereby, a vertical rock shaftadjacent said pressure bar connected with said pitman for oscillationthereby about the axis of said shaft, a driving lever actuated by therocking of said rock shaft, and ball means in Contact with said feedroller so positioned with respect thereto as to allow said roller torotate in one direction, but adapted to wedge and prevent rotation ofsaid feed roller in the reverse direction, said driving lever beingoperatively connected to said clutch whereby said feed roller isintermittently rotated in one direction upon movement of said drivinglever in one direction, Said feed roller being held by said ball meansfrom rotating in the reverse direction upon the return movement of saiddriving lever.

4. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engage the materialsaid work arm for feeding the same thereon, the improvement whichcomprises means for driving said feed roller from said main drive shaft,said means including a tapered spring clutch, flexible at its drivingend and relatively more rigid at its driven end, positioned within saidfeed roller, a driving lever, and an eccentric on said main drive shaft,for oscillating said lever, one end of said driving lever beingoperatively connected to said driven end of said tapered spring clutch,thereby actuating said clutch, whereby, upc-n movement of said drivinglever in one direction, the driving end of said clutch is forced intocontact with the interior of said feed roller, thereby causing saidroller to rotate and feed material across said work arm.

5. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed rollerjour-nailed at the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engagethe material on said work arm for feeding the same thereon, theimprovement which comprises means for driving said feed roller from saidmain drive shaft, said means including a tapered spring clutch, flexibleat its driving end and relatively more rigid at its driven end,positioned within said feed roller, stop means in direct contact withsaid feed roller for preventing rotation of said roller in the reversedirection, a driving lever, and an eccentric on said main drive shaftfor oscillating said lever, one end of said drivingv lever beingoperatively connected to said driven end of said tapered spring clutch,thereby actuating said clutch, whereby, upon movement of said drivinglever in one direction, the driven end of said clutch is forced intocontact with the interior of said feed roller, thereby causing saidroller to rotate and feed material across said work arm, said feedroller being held by said stop means against reverse rotation upon thereturn movement of said driving lever. l

6. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engage the materialon said work arm for feeding the same thereon the improvement whichcomprises means for driving said feed roller from said main drive shaft,said means including a tapered spring clutch positioned within saidroller,

said spring clutch being flexible at its driving end and relatively morerigid at its driven end,

ball means associated with said feed roller for permitting rotation ofsaid feed roller in one direction, but acting as braking means toprevent rotation of said feed roller in the reverse direction, a drivinglever, and an eccentric on said Vmain drive shaft for oscillating saidlever, one

end of said driving lever being operatively connected to said driven endof said tapered spring clutch, thereby actuating said clutch, whereby,

`upon movement of said driving lever in one direction, the driven end ofsaid clutch is forced into contact with the interior of said feed rollerto cause said roller to rotate and feed material across said work arm,said feed roller being held by said ball braking means against rotationin the reverse direction upon return movement of said driving lever.

'7. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engage the materialon said work arm for feeding the same thereon, the improvement whichcomn prises means for driving said feed roller from said main driveshaft comprising, a tapered spring clutch, flexible at its driving endand relatively more rigid at its driven end, positioned within said feedroller, an eccentric on said main drive shaft, a pitman actuatedthereby, a vertical rock shaft connected with said pitman and rockedthereby, and a driving lever oscillated by the rocking of said rockshaft, said driving lever being operatively connected to said taperedspring clutch at its driven end and serving, upon movement of saiddriving lever in one direction, to force the driving end of said clutchinto con-- tact with the interior of said feed roller, whereby saidroller is caused to rotate and feed material across said work arm.

8. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engage the materialon said work arm for feeding the same thereon, the improvement whichcomprises means for driving said feed roller from said main drive shaftcomprising, a tapered spring clutch, flexible at its driving end andrelatively more rigid at its driven end, positioned within said feedroller, stop means directly engaging said feed roller to permit rotationin one direction and prevent said feed roller from rotating in thereverse direction, an eccentric on said main drive shaft, a pitmanactuated thereby, a vertical rock shaft actuated by said pitman, and adriving lever oscillated by the rocking of said rock shaft, said drivinglever being operatively connected to said tapered spring clutch at itsdriven end and serving, upon movement of said driving lever in onedirection, to force the driving end of said clutch into contact with theinterior of said feed roller, whereby said roller is caused to rotateand feed material across said work arm, movement of said feed roller inthe reverse direction during the return movement of said driving leverbeing prevented by said stop means.

9. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away lfrom said work arm and a feed rollerjournalled at the lower end of said pressure bar and adapted to engagethe material on said work arm for feeding the same thereon, theimprovement which comprises means for driving said feed roller from saidmain drive shaft comprising, a tapered spring clutch, flexible at itsdriving end and relatively more rigid at its driven end, positionedwithin said feed roller, ball means in contact with said feed roller sopositioned with respect thereto as to allow said roller to rotate in onedirection, but adapted to wedge and prevent rotation of said feed rollerin the reverse direction, an eccentric on said main drive shaft, apitman actuated thereby, a vertical rock shaft actuated by said pitman,and a driving lever oscillated by said rock shaft, said driving leverbeing operatively connected to said tapered spring clutch at its drivenend and serving, upon movement of said driving lever in one direction,to force the driving end of said clutch into contact with the interiorof said feed roller, whereby said roller is caused to rotate and feedmaterial across said work arm, movement of said feed roller in thereverse direction during the return movement of said driving lever beingprevented by wedging of said ball means.

10. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engage the materialon said work arm for feeding the same thereon, the improvement whichcomprises means for driving said feed roller from said main drive shaftand for regulating the extent of rotation of said roller and thus thelength of the stitch, said means comprising, one-way clutch meanspositioned within said feed roller, an eccentric on said main driveshaft, a pitman actuated thereby, a vertical rock shaft adjacent saidpresser bar arranged to be rocked by said pitman, and a driving leverfor driving said clutch and said feed roller upon the rocking of saidrock shaft, said pitman being connected to one end of said vertical rockshaft by screw means capable of micrometer adjustment by which theextent of movement of said rock shaft may be regulated, therebyregulating the extent of the rotation imparted to said feed roller andthe length of the stitch.

11. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a feed roller adapted to engagethe material on said work arm for feeding the same thereon, theimprovement which comprises means for driving said feed roller from saidmain drive shaft and for regulating the extent of rotation of saidroller and thus the length of the stitch, said means comprising, aneccentric on said main drive shaft, a pitman actuated thereby, avertical rock shaft having one end adjacent said feed roller andarranged to be rocked by said pitman, and a driving lever for drivingsaid feed roller from said rock shaft, said pitman being connected toone end of said vertical rock shaft by screw means capable of micrometeradjustment by which the extent of movement of said rock shaft may beregulated, thereby regulating the extent of the rotation imparted tosaid feed roller and the length of the stitch.

12. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, and feedmechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engage the materialon said work arm for feeding the same thereon the improvement whichcomprises means for driving said feed roller from said main drive shaftand for regulating the extent of rotation of said roller and thus thelength of the stitch, said means comprising, a tapered spring clutch,flexible at its driving end and relatively more rigid at its driven end,positioned within said feed roller, an eccentric on said main driveshaft, a pitman actuated thereby, a vertical rock shaft adjacent saidpresser bar arranged to be rocked by said pitman, and a driving leveroperatively connected to said rock shaft and to the driven end of saidtapered spring clutch, whereby, upon rocking of said rock shaft and theresulting movement of said driving lever in one direction, the drivingend of said clutch is forced into contact with the interior of said feedroller, thereby 13 causing said roller to rotate and feed materialacross said work arm, said pitman being connected to one end of saidvertical rock shaft by screw means providing a micrometer adjustment bywhich the extent of movement of said rock shaft may be regulated,thereby regulating the extent of the rotation imparted to said feedroller and the length of the stitch.

13. Inl 'a sewing machine including a main drive drive shaft, a work armover which material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, andfeed mechanism for said material comprising a presser bar mounted formovement toward and away from said work arm and a feed roller journalledat the lower end of said presser bar and adapted to engage the materialon said work arm for feeding the same thereon, the improvement whichcomprises means for driving said feed roller from said main drive shaftand for regulating the extent of rotation of said roller and thus thelength of the stitch, said means comprising, a tapered spring clutch,iiexible at its driving end and relatively more rigid at its driven end,positioned within said feed roller, ball means associated with said feedroller which permits rotation of said roller in one direction, but whichwedges and thus prevents rotation of said roller in the reversedirection, an eccentric on said main drive shaft, a pitman actuatedthereby, a vertical rock shaft actuated by said pitman, and anoscillatory driving lever operatively connected to said rock shaft andto the driven end of said tapered spring clutch, whereby, upon movementof said driving lever in one direction, the driving end of said clutchis forced into contact with the interior of said feed roller, therebycausing said roller to rotate and feed material across said work arm,said feed roller being prevented by wedging of said ball means fromrotating in the reverse direction during the return movement of saiddriving lever, said pitman being connected to one end of said verticalrock shaft by micrometer adjustment means by which the extent ofmovement of said rock shaft may be regulated, thereby regulating theextent of the rotation imparted to said feed roller and the length ofthe stitch.

14. In a sewing machine including a main drive shaft, a work arm overwhich material is fed past stitch-forming instrumentalities, a presserbar mounted for movement toward and away from said work arm, a rockframe secured to one end of said presser bar, a presser foot pivotallysecured to said rock frame, and a feed roller for feeding materialacross said work arm journalled in said rock frame, the improvementwhich comprises a tapered spring clutch positioned within said feedroller, means including a vertical rock shaft arranged to be rocked byan eccentric on said main drive shaft and an oscillating driving leveractuated by the rocking movements of said rock shaft for driving saidfeed roller in one direction through said tapered spring clutch fromsaid main drive shaft, means for preventing rotation of said feed rollerin the reverse direction, spring means acting on said rock frame foryieldably urging said feed roller against said work arm, and springmeans acting on said rock frame in a reverse direction from said rstnamed spring means for urging said presser foot against said work arm.

HAROLD J. LE VESCONTE. ALBERT M. SCHWEDA. CLARENCE C. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Certicate of Correction Patent No. 2,494,888 January 17, 1950 HAROLD J.LE VESCONTE ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 9, line 45, for the Word pressure read presser;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of May, A. D. 1950.

[sur] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant (Jommzssz'oner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,494,888 January 17, 1950 HAROLDJ. LE VESCONTE ET AL.

It is hereby certied that error` appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 9, line 45, for the word pressure read presser;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of May, A. D. 1950.

[sun] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant (lommz'ssz'oner of Patents.

